 Cover Stories FINDING THE RIGHT HOME FOR YOUR HORSE
by Angel S. Gnau
Whether you are a new horse owner or just looking for a new facility to board your horse or horses, a pleasure rider or show rider, this article may help you to make the all-important decision of where to keep your horse.
First you have to ask yourself whether you want to board out or keep your horses on your own property. Of course, if you decide to get into the horsekeeping business on your own property, you need to find out if your property is zoned for horses. If it is, great… but that is only the beginning. Are there pre-existing stables or buildings that can be ‘retro-fitted’ to accommodate horses? Is there ample room for horses (most areas have strict regulations on how many animals are allowed on the property, based on the square footage). Also, are there any trails close by, or is the property ‘land-locked’ and inaccessible to riding areas? Are you planning to erect an indoor arena? Again, zoning, land use laws, and building codes will come into play. Most importantly, are you ready to take on the responsibility of 24-hour care for your horse or horses? (Horses don’t keep a nine to five schedule!) These are a few of the questions you have to ask yourself before committing to long-term horsekeeping on your own property.
If you don’t already own property you have a better opportunity to buy the right piece of property for your needs. If money is limited you may have to be a bit creative. When I bought my first horse property in Shadow Hills, California, my husband and I had limited funds. I had to visualize what I could do with the existing one-acre site, as it only had a small house and four-stall cinder-block barn. The stables were almost buried in the weeds, and there was no arena. I walked in the front door of the house, completely ignoring the house itself, and walked out the back door, checked out the stables and rest of the property and decided I could make it work. I told the realtor that we wanted to make an offer, and she said, “But you haven’t seen the rest of the house yet.” I replied, “It’s a house, it will be fine.” I had to rescue the barn from the weeds, erect pens and an arena, and pick up rocks forever. It all worked out in the end, even though it was a small piece of land.
An important bit of advice here for existing property or potential purchases. Be sure to take a good look around the neighborhood. Is this an established agricultural or horsekeeping community? Talk to neighbors if possible. Non-horse neighbors are not as apt to be tolerant of odors, flies, and dust. The area may be zoned for horses, but it doesn’t mean all the homeowners have horses. In my own situation, I had new neighbors move in on both sides of my property who did not own horses. They both had wanted to live in a ‘rural’ setting, but did not realize there were smells, dust, and other aspects to ‘country’ living. I was the best neighbor I could be, using fly control, watering the arena before using it to keep the dust down, but there were still those tense moments when we were in disagreement.
Following are some advantages and disadvantages to keeping horses on your own property:
ADVANTAGES OF HOME HORSEKEEPING
• Your horse is right out your back door! No driving time or fuel costs. This adds up to more quality time with your horse. • You control all aspects of caring for your horse… feeding, turnout, etc. You will have a better understanding of your horse and be able to ‘bond’ with him more readily. • No high cost boarding bill. This one speaks for itself!
• No rules and regulations as to when, where, or how you can ride your horse. On your own property, you are the boss. You can see or ride your horse at will. • Less danger of your horse contracting communicable diseases.
DISADVANTAGES OF HOME HORSEKEEPING
• Not as much ‘non-horse’ free time. If you want to go on vacation, you need to hire someone to come in and care for your horse. • If you do all the work yourself, you are in for some hard physical labor. Take it from one who knows! Manure can be quite heavy, not to mention the bales of hay and grain bags. Then there are barns to repair, fences to mend… you get the idea. If it’s in the budget, you might be able to hire someone to do the heavier work, like cleaning stalls and doing repairs. • Constantly smelling like a barn floor. I love the smell of horses, but after a decade of horsekeeping on my property, I began to dislike the smell of urine that seemed to permeate everything, no matter how clean the stables were kept! • Possible loneliness for both you and your horse. If you have just one horse on the property, he will not have the opportunity to see other horses, and you won’t have the chance to share experiences and riding time with other riders.
If you decide that horsekeeping on your own property is not feasible, then this next section is for you:
Make a list of questions you want to ask before you go to visit a stable. When looking for a boarding facility, think about location, goals (do you want to trail ride, or do you have a particular discipline?), and values. The most expensive boarding stable is not necessarily the best, nor is the cheapest. When visiting potential boarding stables, carefully assess the condition of the buildings, arena(s) and the property itself. Talk to other boarders. Are they happy? Are the horses in good condition? Are the stalls clean, with ample bedding? Are horses standing in mud, or among dangerous items like wire or trash? Are repairs made quickly when needed? Ask about feeding and cleaning schedules. Don’t be afraid to ask to see the feed. Is it good quality and properly stored away from heat, rain, and rodents? Is turnout included in the base price of your board, or does it cost extra? Are there restrictions on using the arena(s) or any other parts of the facility? Are trainers available on the grounds? If there are trainers, what do they teach? (If you are a hunter/ jumper person, you may not be happy in a barn that has reining or cutting trainers per se. Obviously, you would want a facility that has jumps available instead of cattle. And vice versa!)
Following are some advantages and disadvantages to keeping your horse(s) at a boarding facility:
ADVANTAGES TO BOARDING
• More “non-horse” free time. If you want to go on vacation, or go away on the spur of the moment, you can. All you need to do is let the management know how long you will be away, and they will care for your horse in your absence. Of course, it will probably cost you a little more, but it will be worth it for the peace of mind. • You don’t have to do all, or any of the work yourself. Your back will thank you! You have the freedom to groom and ride your horse, with no other encumbrances. • No possibility of loneliness for either you or your horse. Boarding stables can be bustling with horses and people. It is possible to find small, quiet stables if you prefer. Your horse will have the opportunity to see other horses, and you might enjoy sharing experiences and riding time with other riders.
DISADVANTAGES TO BOARDING
• Driving time to get to your horse. This adds up to less quality time with your horse in the long run, not to mention fuel costs and wear and tear on your vehicle. There is nothing better than walking out your back door, ready to ride! • High boarding bills. The price of boarding out seems to be going sky high these days, but it is no wonder with the cost of feed, fuel and labor. It’s possible it all works out in the wash as they say, and you might even spend less than if you keep horses on your own property, so this might qualify for the ‘advantages’ list as well! • You don’t control all aspects of caring for your horse. You are pretty much at the mercy of the owners or managers of the boarding stable as to when your horse is fed, turned out, etc. • There is always the chance your horse could contract a disease in a more populated environment. You will have to be more vigilant in his health care, and keep shots and worming current. Of course, you always want to keep up on shots and worming no matter where your horse is kept.
In conclusion, put your ideas on paper and do your research. Try to envision what will work best for both you and your horse. Both of you will be happier in the end!
Happy trails!
Angel Gnau has served the horse industry for more than 30 years. She is a retired Hunter/ Jumper trainer, originally from Southern California, where she owned and managed A.G. Training Stable & Horse Transportation on her own property. She is now a certified equine appraiser, and manages her Pacific Equine Appraisal business in the Portland, Oregon area. She appraises all breeds and disciplines nationwide, with a specialty in hunters/ jumpers and racehorses. She is also a freelance writer, specializing in horse-related articles. Angel can be contacted at (503) 684 2097, or by email: angel.gnau@verizon.net. Copyright © 2008 The NW Horse Source |